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Twist Collective Blog

Throwback Thursday: Andover

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Published on Wednesday, 01 June 2016 22:57

In my early twenties, I had a birthday party with a theme; folks were asked to come dressed as what they wanted to be when they grew up when they were little kids. My friend Krista - whose birthday I celebrated tonight - came as a Nobel laureate. Today, despite the hot sunny afternoon, there was a chill in the air on the walk home from our celebratory dinner, and I wished I could both wear and also give to her a version of this cardigan.

The waffley texture is perfectly cozy and a little bit rustic, but the shawl collar and elbow patches lend a kind of professorial flair.

For the classroom or the cottage, Andover can keep you warm and cool at the same time.

If you're thinking you might like to have one of these for yourself when the autumn comes, you should know that the yarn used in the original is on sale right now, and comes in a ton of great colors!

Designer Post: Reticella

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Published on Monday, 30 May 2016 12:58

Today's post comes to us from Fiona Ellis, and it's a spotlight on her newest Twist design, Reticella! I will admit that I had not looked closely at the details on this stunning cardigan until I got an email from Fiona that she had written a post about the sweater and the technique used to make it so special. It kind of blew my socks off. Find out more about the pattern here, more about the yarn used here, and more about Fiona's work with hand-dyed yarns here!

Reticella - a type of needle lace dating from the 15th century which remained popular up until the 17th century.

Originally a form of cutwork, involving threads being pulled (removed) from linen fabric to make a grid. Using mostly buttonhole stitch a pattern was then stitched onto this foundation.

The technique is worked by first knitting a panel of Stockinette.

Then hand stitching is worked into ladders formed from stitches that have been allowed to drop down within the panel.

A full photo tutorial is included in the pattern instructions.

In designing for ready-to-wear knits many fashion houses like to include embellishment techniques but it seems that they are often over looked in the hand knit world.

So when I decided to experiment with new types of embellishment I looked back to my childhood days of sewing on even-weave cloth. I then did some research on drawn thread work and hit on the idea of creating ladders to use as the foundation for the embroidery.

Drawn thread work was mostly used to decorate everyday items such as tablecloths or bed linens. Even today you see small scale, machine worked patterns on pillow covers and so on, which harks back to the history of this kind of embellishment.

With that in mind I designed an everyday cardigan, one that you can throw on with a skirt or jeans. Embellished with simple hand worked stitching makes it as beautiful as it is practical.

Twist Style Friday: Kimberlite

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Published on Thursday, 26 May 2016 22:48

Every Friday we feature one of the garments from the magazine in a post about styling. We suggest different ways to wear the garment in question using mock-ups from Polyvore. We encourage readers to tell us what they think about these outfits via our Facebook page or Twitter, and if folks want to make their own outfits, please tweet them at us with the hashtag #twiststyle. You can find all of the Style Friday posts here.

I don't know what climate all of you live in, but here in Toronto, I can tell you that summer has arrived. I have already jumped in a lake, eaten a BBQ dinner in someone's backyard, and overheated in my sleep. The time is nigh, friends; get thee poolside, or whatever it is you do to celebrate/survive the warm times.

Knitters sometimes lament the warmer weather. It isn't a time that supports us showing off our most precious handmade things, or seeing them on the people we love. Except that sometimes it actually is! Cool summer nights are lovely for shawls and lacy cardigans, and if you knit with some smart fiber blends, knitted tops can actually be great in the heat.

See how the diamond cutout in the back is echoed with a fractal-ish diamond stitch pattern on the side? She is effectively a simple cap-sleeve tee, but with some seriously cute asymmetry, a spicy cutout, and a pretty neckline. In a wool-cotton blend, she has enough bounce to keep her shape and enough cotton to keep you cool. Plus no sleeves means you can knit her in a snap!

As for outfits, my recipe is simple. really cute flat shoes, at least one bold piece of jewelry, and literally whatever bottoms you feel like wearing. From ripped denim to sparkly tulle, Kimberlite can top it all.

Throwback Thursday: Knoten

Yours don't have to be fraternal twins like these, but they can be. These remind me of circuit boards, and I like it.

Color me: Haden

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Published on Tuesday, 24 May 2016 14:38

Do you know who has some pretty excellent colors? The Fibre Company. And do you know what happens when Courtney Kelley OF the Fibre Company makes a top? You get an adorable little thing called Haden in Canopy Fingering. And then great colors + great top = lots of possibilities. Which is your favorite? I'm partial to fern, but I'd do pink buttons. And gauva is really up my alley but I'd probably do raspberry buttons... contrasting buttons is my thing lately. What do you think?